Christina Rudd

Other Events:

• Name: Christina Wilkins
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-61156
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lady
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Notes:

Bank Burglary

The old Gore Bank had a local branch in Galt, in the sixties. The office adjoined Miss Echlin's hat store, on South Water Street.

The bank door was reached by an open verandah extending from the street to the river wall along the south wall of the building. Upon entering this door there was found a capacious room for the transaction of business and a door leading to a small office for the manager, who, at that time, was John Davidson, one of Galt's early settlers.

There was a bold attempt to rob this bank in the early days of the eighteen sixties, while the first families of Galt were holding a ball in the Town Hall, with guests from Guelph, Berlin, Brantford, Paris and Woodstock; an event in those days that was looked forward to with much interest, as it was a swell affair in every particular. The ladies arranged the supper, which was a feast that would open the eyes of the present generation. The tables fairly groaned with everything good, including claret cup and punches, and everybody did full justice to the spread. The music was rendered by the 13th Battalion Corps, of Hamilton; the hall was decorated from floor to ceiling with flags, bunting of all colors, and with beautiful pictures loaned by the citizens. The stage was carpeted and furnished like a pretty drawing room to be used by those who did not dance, to play whist and to gaze upon the merry throng of dancers below.

The ball was again in full swing, after supper had been served, when across the waxed floor, a figure clad in overcoat and muffler was seen rushing through the maze of dancers to the manager of the bank. He whispered into the banker's ear the disconcerting news that burglars were in the bank. After a hurried apology to his fair partner, the manager, Mr. Davidson, took the arm of the strange guest and left the hall, whispering to several men to follow him quietly and quickly, and when they reached the dressing room they learned the object of the mission and the work they were to perform. Accompanied by the only constable in the town they lost no time in reaching the bank, where, however, the two burglars, who had been seen there, had taken alarm and escaped, before having had time to secure much booty. Both robbers were captured some weeks later, near Hamilton, and duly tried and convicted at the spring assizes in Berlin. One of them was the then notorious Bristol Bill; the other was a man named Clews. Quite a number of Galt citizens and their wives attended the trial.

The person who first discovered the burglars was Mrs. Steve Wilkins, who, from across the street, it being a bright moonlight night, saw strangers on the verandah adjoining the bank, and promptly sent a messenger to the Town Hall, where her husband was at the dance.

Annual Volume 1925 Waterloo Historical Society

Christina — Stephen Wilkins. Stephen (son of William H. Wilkins and Jane Grenfell Kinsman) was born CALC 20 Jan 1840, , England; died 17 May 1879, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Richard H. Wilkins was born 1862, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Thomas W. Wilkins was born 1 Nov 1863, , Ontario, Canada; died 21 Jun 1916, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA.
3. Robert A. Wilkins was born 1866, , Ontario, Canada; died 13 Dec 1903; was buried , Ladner, British Columbia.
4. Stephen R. Wilkins was born 1868, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
5. Edgar Wilkins was born 1869, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
6. Blanche Evelyn Wilkins was born 9 Aug 1872, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 16 Aug 1913, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
7. George Clifford Wilkins was born 22 Apr 1874, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 18 Apr 1946; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Christina — Wilkins. was born CA 1834; died Bef 1891. [Group Sheet]

1. Stephen Wilkins was born 1768, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Martha Wilkins was born 1869, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Blanche Wilkins was born 1872, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
4. George Wilkins was born 1874, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.